Latest news with #Swifts
The Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Stumble in Super Netball semi-final could be making of Swifts star Grace Nweke
Star goaler Helen Housby believes the Swifts' shambolic semi-final stumble against West Coast Fever last week could be the making of Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke. The Swifts went down 77-45 in a shellacking in Perth, with Nweke, the club's star recruit this season, finishing with 23 goals, three offensive penalties and six general play turnovers as the Fever put a blow torch on the Kiwi ace. It was the lowest tally for the 23-year-old this season but Housby expects her goaling partner to bounce back and in fact, grow from the experience. While Housby - who said she would still back Nweke 'till the day I die' - was not about to sugar coat the Swifts' performance, she said both she and Nweke had to find the humour in the game to take the pain out of the result and be able to move on to the grand final qualifier against the Melbourne Vixens on Sunday. 'Both of us are incredibly competitive and hate losing in any form, never mind like that, so you kind of do have to laugh at it a little bit because it does take the sting out,' Housby said. 'For Grace, I always forget how young she is and she actually doesn't have as much experience as everybody thinks she does - and especially I thought she did. 'I've had so many games where I either haven't played well at all or we've had a devastating loss for whichever team I'm part of, and that's absolutely shaped who I am as a player and it's shaped my career and it's made me more resilient and it's made me a better player and better able to deal with those moments. 'So I personally think this is just going to be one of those moments for her and she'll probably look back on it in five or 10 years and say - 'Do you know what, that made me a better player'.' If their 2019 campaign is any indication that could come as quickly as this weekend. Housby sees plenty of parallels between the 2019 Swifts - who suffered a significant loss to Sunshine Coast Lightning in the major semi-final before winning their preliminary as underdogs and taking their revenge on the Lightning in the decider. 'It absolutely feels like a bit of deja vu,' Housby said, not just of the result but the way the team had responded. '(The loss) definitely felt the same way that this game feels because we were so confident going into it and we had nothing to lose and then we came back to Sydney licking our wounds a little bit the same as we've done this time around. 'We actually we played the Vixens in that prelim as well and we had one of our best performances of the year. 'It definitely does feel very similar and I feel like the way that we've banded together this week also feels similar to how we did it in 2019, so I'm hoping that history will repeat itself.' Certainly Housby, who has played much more of a feeder role than in previous seasons given Nweke's dominance in the one-on-one contest in the circle, is not about to abandon her shooting partner. 'I'm still super proud of her. I'll back her in till the day I die, I think she's incredible,' she said. 'And I don't think one bad game defines a player. 'She certainly was not the only one who didn't have her best game. I don't think anyone on the court at the weekend for the Swifts would be happy with their performance.' And beware the wounded warriors. Housby is an athlete who wants the ball in her hand in the crucial moment - one unafraid to take on the big plays in the big games. And she believes Nweke is the same. 'I'm excited to see what she does this weekend, because I think there's a bit of vengeance in her mind - as there is in mine,' she said. Netball Super Netball's eliminated teams must confront harsh truths about their failed campaigns. But there is a road back to the top. We assess what's next for the six teams to miss the grand final. Netball From big-name recruits and runaway premiership favourites at the start of the year to a crushing prelim-final defeat, things turned very ugly for the Swifts. So how did it all fall apart?
Courier-Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Melbourne Vixens stun NSW Swifts in preliminary final comeback, grand final vs West Coast Fever
Don't miss out on the headlines from Netball. Followed categories will be added to My News. Melbourne Vixens are riding high after a last ditch effort to beat the NSW Swifts by 66 to 65 points, to book their place in the 2025 Super Netball grand final. They came from behind in the dying seconds of the game, having trailed 51-41 after the third quarter, and will go into next week's match full of confidence having won eight of their last ten games. Watch every game of the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season, LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Standing in their way however, will be the formidable West Coast Fever, who demolished the Swifts by 32 points in last weekend's major semi-final. Speaking post match captain and MVP Kate Moloney said, 'I'm exhausted but I'm so bloody proud. We were down by ten goals and we found something in that last quarter and they just never stopped fighting.' Coaching her second last match with the Vixens, Simone McKinnis, added, 'We weren't going to walk away from here afraid to take risks. They saw a glimpse and a hope and away they went.' X SUBSCRIBER ONLY It was the greatest preliminary final comeback in Super Netball history, beating the nine-goal market the Vixens set in 2022 against the Giants. It was a dismal end to the season for Swifts, despite the return of inspirational captain Paige Hadley who has missed the last two rounds with a foot injury. While she provided a calm head and safe pair of hands, the Swifts have been bundled out of the finals in straight sets, after looking untouchable as they went undefeated through the first eight rounds. Melbourne Vixens players celebrate. (Photo by) Simone McKinnis inspired her players. (Photo by) There was immense pressure from the opening whistle, causing fumbles, stray passes and uncharacteristic missed shots. The Swifts were first to take advantage of those errors, going long and high to Grace Nweke in the circle. Despite her athleticism, some balls were sprayed over her head or swatted away by goal keeper Rudi Ellis who finished with six gains, allowing the Vixens to shift gears and take a three point lead into the first break. The Swifts hit the front in the second quarter as their confidence grew, with Helen Housby raising the bar after a quiet few weeks. Passes started going in more smoothly to the circle, with Nweke lifting her shooting from a subpar 77 percent in the first quarter to a total of 53/58 at 91 percent across the match. With the Swifts' Sharni Lambden applying enormous pressure at wing defence, Vixens' skipper Moloney did everything she could to pull her side over the line. She had a strong connection with Sophie Garbin under the post, who picked up the slack while the hero of so many victories, Kiera Austin, struggled for influence early on. The Swifts couldn't believe it. (Photo by Mark) The Vixens seemed down and out of the contest with the deficit sitting at 11 points and their penalties twice their opponents, until Lily Graham sank consecutive supershots to bring the margin back to single digits. In an inspirational last quarter Austin finally switched on her radar when it counted, firing in three long range shots to finish with 12/16 including four from five supershots, while her partner Garbin had a solid 46/47. The Vixens found another gear and rolled over the Swifts in highly emotional scenes. MCKINNIS MAGIC Simone McKinnis will make her final appearance as Vixens' coach in next weekend's grand final, after 212 games in charge of the club. Across 13 years, she's taken them to two titles, three minor premierships and a further three grand final appearances, and will leave massive shoes to fill. It looked like it was going to be McKinnis' final game in charge at the end of the third quarter but an inspiration and emotional final address helped inspire the Vixens to life. 'We have nothing to lose here! Except for throwing our best selves as this contest,' McKinnis said. PAIN FOLLOWS A POINT Remarkably, the previous three Super Netball preliminary finals have been decided by a solitary point, with the Vixens taking out two of those wins, and the Swifts the other. Despite moving on into the grand final, neither side was then able to steal the ultimate victory. Originally published as Super Netball stunner as emotional speech sparks all-time Vixens comeback
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Vixens beat Swifts by one goal to reach grand final
The Melbourne Vixens have punched their ticket to a Super Netball grand final with a sensational one-goal win after Swifts attacker Helen Housby missed her shot in the dying second. The Swifts were in pole position to reach the decider after building a 10-goal lead at the final break of their preliminary final at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday. But the Vixens, determined to extend retiring coach Simone McKinnis's reign by one more week, sprung to life and built a 65-64 lead. Swifts star Grace Nweke levelled the scores at 65-65, before Vixens goalshooter Sophie Garbin returned serve to restore the visitors' one-goal lead. Housby then had the chance to send the game into extra time when she received the ball in the circle in the dying seconds, but sent it over. The Vixens face West Coast in next Saturday's grand final and will enjoy home-court advantage at Rod Laver Arena under Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. Vixens shooter Garbin was on song with 46 goals from 47 attempts, while captain Kate Moloney finished with 24 goal assists and 35 feeds. The visitors were cleaner and took their chances better in a frantic opening term to take a 15-12 lead at the first break. But the home side wrestled back momentum when Nweke pulled off seven consecutive goals, launching the Swifts ahead 31-29 in the second quarter. Nweke's attacking work was complemented by wing defence Sharni Lambden, who worked hard to nullify Vixen opponent Zara Walters. Vixens coach McKinnis was forced to turn to the bench in a bid to free up their attack, handing Tara Watson her Super Netball debut in place of Walters. McKinnis again threw around the magnets when the Swifts burst to a six-goal lead midway through the third term, moving Diamonds star Jo Weston into wing defence and bringing Kate Eddy into goal defence. But NSW rolled with the punches and broke out to a 51-41 lead, before the Vixens came home in a flurry. Swifts centre and co-captain Paige Hadley's impact was immediately felt on return from a foot injury, as Nweke rediscovered her form in attack with 53 goals from 58 attempts.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nothing to lose for Swifts after finals 'nightmare'
Having survived a living nightmare, star attacker Helen Housby says the NSW Swifts' Super Netball finals fate can't get any worse than what has already happened. The Swifts will be out for redemption - and a spot in the 2025 decider - when the 13-times finalists host the Melbourne Vixens in a do-or-die prelim at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday. Housby and her teammates were left reeling after a disastrous 77-45 semi-final mauling to grand final-bound West Coast in the RAC Arena "dungeon". After a perfect 8-0 start to the season, NSW have lost five of their past seven games. This is where we belong! Lets Go Swifts, Lets Go! 🙌🎟️ | — NSW Swifts (@NSWSwifts) July 24, 2025 Meanwhile, the Vixens are riding high after sensationally ending Adelaide's bid for a third-straight title with a 58-56 win last week. The road to grand final glory works favourably for the Vixens, who will enjoy home-court advantage - despite finishing fourth - if they reach the decider. Despite the Fever finishing on top of the table, Rod Laver Arena will host the grand final on August 2 under Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. NSW can't look that far just yet, with Housby saying her side was taking a nothing-to-lose approach against Melbourne. "It kind of feels like we've lived our nightmare but, in saying that, the sun came up the next day," Housby said. "I don't want to say it was a relief but to get that game out of the way but still have a game to play, it almost feels like it can't go any worse than what it was (against West Coast). "We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain going into this game." Housby has seen this movie before too, saying NSW have never had it easy on the way to a grand final. The Swifts were thumped 58-48 by Sunshine Coast in the 2019 major semi-final before rebounding to win the title. Housby also points to their 2023 run, where the Swifts eliminated the Fever by one point in the dying seconds. They later lost the grand final by one point to Adelaide. "It does feel like a bit of deja vu," Housby said. "It always seems like there's a bit of adversity in our wins and in our premierships, so I quite like that. "I love to be on the edge of performance. This group is itching for it. Just itching for another chance to prove ourselves and to show the netball world that that's not what we stand for." Swifts co-captain and mid-courter Paige Hadley is expected to return from a leg injury in a massive boost for coach Briony Akle's team.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Nothing to lose for Swifts after finals 'nightmare'
Having survived a living nightmare, star attacker Helen Housby says the NSW Swifts' Super Netball finals fate can't get any worse than what has already happened. The Swifts will be out for redemption - and a spot in the 2025 decider - when the 13-times finalists host the Melbourne Vixens in a do-or-die prelim at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday. Housby and her teammates were left reeling after a disastrous 77-45 semi-final mauling to grand final-bound West Coast in the RAC Arena "dungeon". After a perfect 8-0 start to the season, NSW have lost five of their past seven games. Meanwhile, the Vixens are riding high after sensationally ending Adelaide's bid for a third-straight title with a 58-56 win last week. The road to grand final glory works favourably for the Vixens, who will enjoy home-court advantage - despite finishing fourth - if they reach the decider. Despite the Fever finishing on top of the table, Rod Laver Arena will host the grand final on August 2 under Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. NSW can't look that far just yet, with Housby saying her side was taking a nothing-to-lose approach against Melbourne. "It kind of feels like we've lived our nightmare but, in saying that, the sun came up the next day," Housby said. "I don't want to say it was a relief but to get that game out of the way but still have a game to play, it almost feels like it can't go any worse than what it was (against West Coast). "We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain going into this game." Housby has seen this movie before too, saying NSW have never had it easy on the way to a grand final. The Swifts were thumped 58-48 by Sunshine Coast in the 2019 major semi-final before rebounding to win the title. Housby also points to their 2023 run, where the Swifts eliminated the Fever by one point in the dying seconds. They later lost the grand final by one point to Adelaide. "It does feel like a bit of deja vu," Housby said. "It always seems like there's a bit of adversity in our wins and in our premierships, so I quite like that. "I love to be on the edge of performance. This group is itching for it. Just itching for another chance to prove ourselves and to show the netball world that that's not what we stand for." Swifts co-captain and mid-courter Paige Hadley is expected to return from a leg injury in a massive boost for coach Briony Akle's team.
